Evaluate pick/pack accuracy, on-time shipping %, dock-to-door transit, inventory velocity, and SLA penalties. Assess throughput flexibility, labor model, peak staffing plans, and reporting cadence. Check sample daily/seasonal KPIs and require real-time inventory visibility before committing.

Prioritize proximity to highways, intermodal terminals, seaport and air cargo gateways; presence of cross-dock and consolidation services; density of LTL and parcel carriers; and available regional carrier contracts that affect zone-based shipping rates.

Negotiate clear line items for storage tiers, per-order/per-line pick fees, receiving and kitting charges, and minimums. Include throughput discounts, seasonal rate caps, SLA credits, and an agreed change-management process for SKU growth or service changes.

Require WMS feature lists, API/EDI specifications, sandbox access for testing, sample data exchange runs, and reporting examples. Verify real-time inventory accuracy, audit trails, security certifications, and a documented go-live test plan with rollback criteria.